Okay, it is >> it's November 17th at 7:15. We'll call to order the city of Briner personnel and finance committee meeting. We'll start with introductions. >> Kelly Beth, Briner City Council, Ward Two. Nick Bal, city administrator. >> Connie Hman, finance director. Chris
Schubert, director, >> and Gabe Johnson, chair of the committee. We have four items in front of us. The first of which is a promotion of Laura Jewel to building representative. Chris, >> on October 6th, the council authorized backfilling the building representative
position. An internal job posting was conducted with three employees applying for the position. Staff recommends promoting Laura Juel to the building representative representative position effective November 4th and she'll be placed on step six pursuant to city
policy. Also, after reviewing the organizational structure, staff recommends back billing with the business office support specialist instead of the cashier postal specialist position, which is Miss Jules's current position. This action basically combines
the two positions, realizing that both positions perform customer service duties for the public utilities department and both positions are currently paid the same wage. In your packet is the updated job description, including a red light version depicting the changes. The
recommended action is to promote Miss Laura Juul to the building representative position effective November 4th at step six and also to approve the updated business office support specialist job description as presented and to authorize staff to complete the hiring process to fill the
position. >> No questions. move to approve staff's recommendations on both. >> I'll second that. One quick question. If we're not going to have a postal specialist, how is the mail going to get sent? >> The male duties were transferred to
other positions. So, it's still >> they know when I get to the post, are they a specialist in it? >> We have great employees that will take care of >> I believe we do. I'm joking. >> All in favor say I. >> I. >> That motion carries. Next up is parks
proposed capital. >> Okay, I'll start it off. In August, the park board presented a capital budget with equipment, routine maintenance items total 142,000, facilities total 106, and 457,000 and some change for long-term capital projects for a total
request of $75,386. Since August, the policy of no driving in the parks has been brought to light, and this includes park maintenance vehicles as well. Therefore, staff presented in the park board approved a revised plan. So, instead of 50% for a
used lift and a wing plow as well as an air raator, the proposed plan is for a budget and a piece of snow equipment, which is probably a brush attachment for the skid steer for sidewalks. We're hoping that we'd get at least a couple snowfalls downtown to see what they really need if they needed something else beforehand. So, there's no change
in the dollar difference in the park's budget, just a change of equipment. So the recommended action is to accept the proposed revised 2026 parks capital budget. >> Yeah, I apologize. What Connie just said is different than what I read. So I just need to just take a second, Mr. Chair.
>> Okay. I I struggle with this one, Mr. Chair. I because I think if if as a city our budget we can't make our preliminary le
>> one of the areas that I would consider >> a reduction would be in parks >> and I supposed to do it in the long-term capital request maintenance. Yeah, that but in parks. So, so I really think this this is part of a
bigger discussion on the levy >> and and I just I just feel hesitant if we tell parks >> that we approve this. >> Yeah. >> I don't think this is the time to do that because I think then then it's
taken as well, you approved our budget. >> Yeah. >> And I just That's not going to I'm not going to make a motion at this point. I think it should be part of the levy discussion. >> So I think sorry >> you know I'm going to be set up a meeting this week with me and you might go to day and county to go through the
budget fairly detail if uh the city if the city council want to table this until after that meeting a lot more clarity. >> Yeah I think I'll update not take action. I think that's a it's a perfect idea because if we shouldn't be approving departmental budgets
individually and just the last department to get to us, there's no money left over. >> So, I guess what I think the park board is asking is to just change what is highlighted in in pink here. >> But that's presuming that we already approved something for parks and I don't think we have. I think we've approved a
preliminary levy amount. >> Period. >> We received their budget. We received their budget >> and we received their proposed >> we accepted the report. Thank you very much for giving a report but I haven't approved a parks budget yet. So it's not like they're asking for no changes.
There's nothing. >> We're not starting anywhere. We only have a big picture umbrella of 8%. I'm just saying if it comes down to push comes to shove and we're going to start taking police officers off the street or
selling fire trucks at half price on eBay or cutting the parks cutting the parks and I don't mean to be you know I know parks are something that people when they move to a community housing jobs schools and parks I get that
>> thank you >> I also put it in that order on purpose >> kind of their luxury items. They're not police force, not the fire department. >> So, I guess can we tell the park board or park department to at least start pricing out these items to make sure that these are good numbers? >> Well, presume they've already done that.
>> I I'll tell you right now, $4,000 for snow removal equipment is not a good number. I I take that back. I noticed on Facebook today the school district is putting some things up for public option and they had a broom attachment. >> You may be able to get a broken down 30-y old broom attachment for $4,000.
Right. >> But I Yeah, I think we just I'll I'll present this upstairs if they have changes, but it's part of the bigger discussion. >> I I really think so. >> Thank you, Kelly. Let's go to the next item, which is a resolution enabling
establishing deferred assessments. I'm Kelly. >> Um, so at the last council meeting, we discussed the value of the applicant's homestead for deferred assessment. The last time it was reviewed in 2022, staff is proposing we use the estimated market value of the applicant's homestead be less than the assessment
medium homestead value per crowing county for homesteads within the city of Brainard and this amount be updated by annually on even payers. Um staff did review the city ambassador's application for deferment and they [clears throat] use data from the US census bureau but staff feels
that the median assessment value for homes within the city of Brainard as determined by Crowing County is a better value for the city to use. So the recommended action is to adopt the proposed resolution as presented. And so the resolution just changing this one section right here.
Yeah, it's a little bit wordy, but I think it's clear and you can't argue what it what the intention is. So, I like it. >> I liked it as well, Mr. Chair. I would move that we pass this on to the full council for adoption and congratulate staff on doing a good job on this one.
>> Yeah. And I'll second that. All in favor? I >> I >> That motion carries. And then we have a levy update. county. >> We're going to get $160,000 for you tonight. >> Okay. So, staff detailed the changes
that were in the agenda item. With those changes, additional 12,000 of revenue or cuts need to be made to get to the 8% levy that was in September. Um the agenda request lifted out listed out the preliminary city tax rate compared to what it is for this year. Um staff is working on scheduling meeting with
council president, PNF chair, and city administrative and finance director for later this week. The final levy can be lower but cannot be higher than the preliminary levy. And the budget for the general funds and the final levy needs to be set by December 31st. The public hearing is scheduled for Monday,
December 8th at 6:00. So staff is wondering if council would like to have a budget workshop to further discuss the levy and budget or have staff provide another update at the December 1st council meeting at which time the council can provide further direction to staff on the amount the levy should be used for the public hearing. So the
recommended action is um to discuss and provide further direction the 2026 levy and consider if a budget workshop should be held or if it could be decided at the December second. >> Yes sir. Just discuss it really. No no no no action taken. I Kelly I like the
December 1st option of just doing it at a regular council meeting. >> I think that's fine. I don't think we're going to be that busy on December 1st. We also have a little time on the ETH if we have to. >> Yeah. Is is one week enough for you to when we come back saying we're going to go 2% again this year?
>> Plus you're already meeting with her and the >> Mike and I will Yeah. >> So yeah, let's do it on December 1st and >> about another update and then we can decide from there. Hey, do we need a workshop or do we just use this percent for the public hearing and then we can decide on the 15th and we set the final
levy. >> Just one thing, Mr. Chair, in the past one council leadership has met. We have had one council member that has got I've spoken every time against that. >> It might be best tonight if council directs
a meeting of council leadership rather than risk that council chair's wrath yet and it's up to you of course because I'm not part of the council leadership anymore. But in the past, we've had council leadership meetings and if not
they've not sat well with a certain individual. >> It's up to you. I just >> All right. Will you make that motion to bring to council? I see. >> Yes, absolutely. >> Okay. Second. All in favor say I. >> I. >> We'll bring that one. status. That's a cleaner way